A Form Of Support For Cancer Patients

Group A Source Of Help For People Diagnosed With Melanoma

SOUTHINGTON — Don Looney wants those with malignant melanoma to know they are not alone in their struggle.

Looney, who has the rare and deadly form of skin cancer, has since last October run a support group for people with the disease.

``I wanted to get the word out because I know there are other people with melanoma out there who don't know about all the resources that are available to them,'' Looney said. He said he knows of no other support group for melanoma patients in Connecticut.

The group grew out of one he helped start for people in the region receiving experimental treatment for melanoma at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in California. That group met last May with five people and Looney decided afterward to open it up to all melanoma patients.

The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bradley Memorial Hospital.

``We were happy to give them space,'' said Kathy Helmecki, coordinator of health and wellness programs at the hospital. ``When people come to us with a need we want to help them out.''

The group is a source of information and emotional support for people who have a kind of cancer that Looney said never really goes away. Looney has had relapses twice since he started treatment.

``Melanoma is an insidious disease,'' he said. ``It can recur anytime and anywhere; you're never really in the clear. You have to remain vigilant and stay one step ahead of it.''

The group's most recent meeting had 10 people, Looney said. He recruited members from a general cancer support group at New Britain General Hospital, by posting notices on the Internet and by word of mouth. Doctors have also referred patients to the group.

Melanoma's aggressive character hinders attempts to enlarge the group. In December, a 49-year old woman who was a member died, Looney said.

Looney was diagnosed with melanoma in summer 1993.

``Melanoma is rare but the number of cases is rising rapidly,'' said Dr. Joseph Weiss, a local dermatologist. ``And it's avoidable but most people don't bother taking the measures they need to do that.''

Melanoma is one of three kinds of skin cancer. Skin cancer accounts for about 20 percent of all new cancer cases each year, Weiss said. People with melanoma are about 10 percent of those with skin cancer.

Weiss will give a talk about skin cancer May 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bradley. He will discuss prevention as well as detecting and treating the disease.